Latest KFF Health News Stories
President Donald Trump spoke to a crowd of mainly senior citizens at The Villages, Fla. The official White House event was structured around the signing of an executive order designed to strengthen the Medicare Advantage program but had many of the characteristics of a campaign rally as the president pledged to protect the Medicare program from what he described as “socialist destruction.”
Sanders Plans To Participate In Next Debate After Heart Procedure
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) “is up and about” in a Nevada hospital, according to a statement by his wife, Jane Sanders. He expects to be released by the end of the weekend and be back on the campaign trail before the upcoming Oct. 15 debate. This health scare raises questions of how age will play into the 2020 presidential election with four candidates over the age of 70. Meanwhile, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) is pushing his plan to fight child poverty.
CDC Reports The Number Of Lung Illnesses Tied To Vaping Surpasses 1,000
That’s an increase of 275 cases in the past week. About half of those people were hospitalized during the week and the rest are older cases just now linked to the outbreak.
First Edition: October 4, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Where Contraception’s A Lifestyle Drug Not A Medical Need — So Women Pay The Tab
Unlike in the U.S., health insurance in Germany doesn’t cover birth control. German health advocates say that causes health problems — but change is unlikely.
Why Hospitals Are Getting Into The Housing Business
Hospital systems now invest in housing to help some of their most frequent patients. This allows them to safely discharge patients who otherwise would have no place to go, freeing up beds for sicker patients and saving the hospitals money.
Trump Speech Offers Dizzying Preview Of His Health Care Campaign Strategy
The president’s outline of key health policy concerns touched on a variety of hot-button issues from drug prices to immigration.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Trump Turns To Medicare
President Donald Trump, dogged by an impeachment inquiry, tries to change the subject by unveiling an executive order aimed at expanding the role of private Medicare health plans. The Trump administration also launched an effort this week to expand “wellness” programs aimed at getting people with insurance to practice better health habits – even though research has shown the efforts don’t generally improve health or save money. This week, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.
Cuando la masculinidad se vuelve “tóxica”: un perfil de género de los tiroteos masivos
A nivel nacional, hubo 53 tiroteos masivos en áreas públicas durante ese tiempo, y todos menos tres involucraron a sospechosos de género masculino.
Editorial pages focus on these health issues and others.
Perspectives: Trade War’s Impact On The Drug Industry; Pelosi’s Drug Plan Draws Criticism
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Media outlets report on news from North Dakota, New Mexico, California, Texas, New York, Georgia, Louisiana, Oregon and Colorado.
Drug Pricing Caught In Political Sniping Between Trump, Pelosi
A weekly round-up of stories related to pharmaceutical development and pricing.
Large Planned Parenthood Clinic Built In Secret Near Illinois-Missouri Border
Planned Parenthood says the new center will provide surgical abortions as well as “medication abortion and a full range of family planning services, including birth control, annual exams, cancer screenings, STI testing, and HIV prevention, including PrEP.” To avoid protests, construction of the 18,000-square-foot facility was carried out quietly in Fairview Heights, Ill. — which is 13 miles away from Missouri’s only abortion clinic. The women’s health organization legally challenged Missouri in court over measures that would have forced that St. Louis facility to close. News outlets also look at what the moves mean for residents in the region. Abortion-related news also comes from Georgia.
N.Y.’s Increase In Medicaid Payments To Hospitals Came After Industry Made Donation To Democrats
The New York Times reports that the hospital association donated more than $1 million to the state Democratic Party last year and shortly afterward the Cuomo administration quietly approved an increase in reimbursement rates for the first time since 2008. In other state Medicaid news, a former Republican official in Oklahoma changes his views on expanding the program, Tennessee residents raise questions about changes planned there and New Hampshire officials seek to avert problems on school Medicaid funding.
The FDA is challenging how the test was conducted that showed unsafe levels of a carcinogen, but in the meantime, Walmart has joined other major drug retailers no longer selling the drug.
BJC HealthCare In St. Louis Area Announces Plans To Raise Minimum Hourly Pay To $15, A 50% Increase
BJC HealthCare has 15 hospitals total, and 11 of them are located in the St. Louis region. About 3,500 employees, largely those in maintenance and patient transport, will see the increase, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. News on the health industry also looks at layoffs at skilled-nursing facilities and pension shortfalls at Catholic hospitals, as well.
Walmart Testing Program To Push Workers Toward Doctors Offering Higher-Quality Care
The giant retailer is contracting with a data analysis firm to come up with lists of physicians to recommend. Workers who go to those doctors will have lower out of pocket costs.
Utah is the most recent to put in place an emergency rule limiting the sale of e-cigarettes and requiring warnings about unregulated THC products. Meanwhile, bans in states such as Michigan, Massachusetts and Arkansas are facing legal challenges.
Vaping-Related Lung Damage Resembles Chemical Burn
Mayo Clinic researchers found this pattern in a study of 17 lung bioposies from patients from across the country who have suffered the mysterious lung injury. Researchers also found that the problems were less likely to be caused by fatty substances such as mineral oils. Other news outlets report on the question of what happens when people who vape or use e-cigarettes can no longer buy them.